Apparatus for picking cotton



March 26, 1929. HERRMANN APPARATUS FOR PIGKIN G QOTTON Filed June 26,1926 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR K/IEL L. HEEE/Wfi/Y/V ATTORNEY March 1929.K. L. HEFRMANN APPARATUS FOR PICKING COTTON Filed June 26, 1926 5 sh t-s t 2 March 26, 1929. K. L. HERRMANN 1,707,010

APPARATUS FOR PICKING COTTON Filed June26, 1926 a Sheets-Sheet 3 ig a IINVENTOR KARL L. HE/iEMflN/V ATTORNEY Patented Mar. .26, 1 929. 7

KARL L. HERRMAN N, F DE'IELUIT. MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR PIGKING GOTTDN.

Application filed, June 536,

' opening for the introduction. of a cotton boll when presented thereto.

Another object is to provide a cotton picking nozzle having a normallyclosed slotted end, such slot being capable ofbeing manually deformed topresent an opening.

Another object is to provide a cotton pic-lo ing nozzle having anormally closed slotted end, such end being formed of flexible materialso as to be readily deformable, and

' means incorporated in said nozzle for preventing collapsing o'l saidnozzle. due to the vacuum therein, with suitable manually operable meansfor causing said end to be deformed whereby said slot will betemporarily transformed into an opening.

Another object to provide a cotton picking nozzle comprising a. flexiblewalled hollow member provided with. a. normally closed slotted end, oneor more pivotally mounted longitudinally extending inflexible membersbeing imbedded therein whereby said slotmay be diiiitorted into anopening upon pres-v sure being applied to said members, suitableresilient metallic means being also. imbedded in aid walls andco-operating with said members for resisting the normal suction Withinsaid nozzle which tends to collapse said walls.

Another object is to provide a cotton picking nozzle comprising aflexible walled hollow member provided with a normally closed slottedend, one or more longitudinally extending pivot-ally mounted rigidmembers being cooperatively associated with. the walls thereof, andsuitable flexible reinforcing means being provided for preventing thewalls thereof from being collapsed by the suction within the nozzle.

Another object is to provide a hollow cotton picking nozzle having anormally closed slotted end, the end of said. nozzle being distort-ablewhereby said slot may be deformed into an opening.

Another object is to provide av hollow cotton picking nozzle providedwith a normally Eirrial l'T-lO. 118,305.

closed slotted end, said end being flexible, and means co-operating withsaid end whereby the slot may be deformed to provide an opel'nng.

Another object to provide a. hollow cotton picking nozzle provided withrelatively inlilexible wall portions and flexible wall portions, one endbeing closed and slotted end the slot being bounded on at least one sideby a flexible wall. portion, and manually operable rigid meansco-operatively associating with said flexible wa ll portions fordistorting said slot into an opening. I k

A further object is to provide a hollow cotton picking nozzle having anormally closed slotted end, the walls of said nozzle being provided foragainst collapsing from the suction therein, said end incorporating aflexible 'all lending to close said slot due to the action of thesuction within the nozzle,

'a11d manually operable means associated with said flexible wall fordistorting the slot into an opening;

The abovebeing among the objects of the present invention, the sameconsists of certain features of construction and combinations of partsto be hereinafter described with reference to the accom iairvingdrawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

ln the accompanying drawings which show a suitable embodiment of thepresent invention, and in which like numerals refer to like "sthroughout the seve 'al different views, 1 a longitudinal sectional viewtaken centrally through the main body portion of a cotton picking nozzleembodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 of Fig. 1. i

Fig. 3 in an end view of the front end of the nozzle of. Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional. view taken on the line 4-t of Fig. 1.

Fl 5 is :1V longitudinal sectional View taken centrally through the rearend portion of the nozzle of the preceding figures, showing theconstruction thereof and a preferable method of securing the nozzle toits suction hose.

Fig. 6 is a, longitijulinal sectional view taken centr ly through amodified construction of the nozzle of the preceding figures.

Fi g. 7 is a. longitudinal sectional view taken centrally throughanother modified form of nozzle.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7. I

Fig. 9 is a front end view of the nozzle shown in Fig 10, showing theend in distorted position to form an opening.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken centrally through anothermodified form of nozzle. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view takencentrally through still another modified form of nozzle;

The present invention deals with nozzles for that type of cotton pickingmachines in which ioses or flexible tubes are extended from a source ofsuction and are equipped with normally closed nozzles at the free endsthereof, the nozzles being so constructcd as to be capable of'uncoveringor otherwise providing an opening therein at will wherebywhen the nozzleis presented to a boll of cotton and operated to provide such opening,the suction within the nozzle will withcross-wise thereof.

draw the boll of cotton into the nozzle and the same will be carriedthrough the hose to'a'suitable place of deposit. a

The present invention further contemplates the use of a nozzle providedwith a normally closed slotted end provided with a flexible wall, meansbeing provided for manually distorting such wall to temporarilytransform the slot into an opening for the introduction of the cottonboll, it being thus distinguished from thattype of nozzles in which apermanent opening provided with a controllable coveris used toaccomplish the same end; I

I have previously suggested the'use of a nozzle of the present typewherein the entire walls thereof were flexible, and have providedlongitudinally extending pivotally mounted rigid members imbeddedtherein, forthepurpose of manually affecting the distortion of theslotted end into the required opening, but I have discovered that insome cases where the walls of such nozzles were struction has beeninvented. In accordance with the present invention I provide means forcounteracting such collapsing tendency of thewalls of the nozzle whileat the same time the flexibility of the walls at the points wheredistortion is required, is retained.

To illustrate, in Fig. 1 is shown a-nozzle of tubular shape providedwith flexible walls 15 which converge to close one end thereof, this endbeing provided with a normally closed slot 16 extending centrallyImbedded within the wa lls"];5*and extending longitudinally of thenozzle at diametrically opposite points on either side of the slot 16are two rigid metallic members 17 which are pivotally supported on aring 18 also imbedded in the walls 15 just rcarwardly of the center ofthe members 17, the forward ends of wh ch terminate short of the slot16. The suction within this nozzle draws the end walls together tonormally close the slot 16, this action being accentuated due to theface that the suction acts on a longer portion of the members 17forwardly of the ring 18 than rearwardly thereof. The members 17 stopshort of the rear end of the nozzle which may be secured to a hose suchas 1.) by a conventional sleeve such as 20 and hose clamps such as 21.In operation the nozzle is grasped by the hand at a point adjacent therear ends of the members 17 and squeezed, thus drawing the rear ends ofthe opening thus formed, as previously described. Upon release of thepressure of the hand the parts return to normal position with the endclosed. As also previously described, if the walls 15 are undulyflexible, or the suction within the nozzle particularly high, and if insuch case the walls 13 were supported or reinforced only by the memhere17 and ring 18, they might possibly be drawn together or collapse andthereby interfere with the proper functioning of the nozzle. To provideagainst such a possibility, means are employed in the present inventionto counteract this tendency. The means employed in the present case is alight coil of spring wire 22 which is coiled through the members 17 forsubstantially their full length, and extending as near to the slot 16 asis practical without restricting the ability thereof to be distorted.The wire 22is coiled through the members 17 before the same arevulcanized into the flexible walls 15, and are such that when the nozzleis completed, it reinforced against collapsing due to the suctiontherein, but the wire 22 is sufficiently flexible to allow manualdistortion of the nozzle. as previously explained, without interferingwith the correct operation of the same.

In Fig. 6 a modification of the nozzle construction illustrated in theprevious figures is shown. The construction in this nozzle issubstantially the same as the previously explained nozzle in itsessential details, it being provided with flexible circular sectionedwalls 23, a slot 21 in its normally closed end wall, and longitudinallyextending members pivoted on a rim, 26, corresponding to the walls 15,slot 16, members 17 and ring 18 respectively, except in this case thering 18 is set further out 'adially in respect to the members 25 thanare the members 17 iurespect to the ring 18,

so as to provide a perfectly smooth and un-- broken cylindrical interiorsurface up to a point where the forward end. converges to form the slot24. In this case a coil spring;- 27'is employed. similar to the springwire 22 of the previously explained nozzle, but instead of beingdirectly associated with the members 25 as is the spring 22 with themembers 17, and imbedded in the walls of the nozzle, it is provided asan auxiliary part and is inserted after the nozzle has been fullycompleted otherwise, it preferably be ing of slightly greater normaloutside diameter than the inside diameter of the nozzle, and beingslightly compressed radially when introduced into and when in positionwithin the nozzle as indicated in Fig. (5. It is also preferably of sucha length as to abut against the sleeve 20 by which the nozzle isconnected to the hose 19, so that any tendency thereof to work back outof the nozzle is effectively prevented. The operation of this nozzle andthe function of the sprin 27 is the same as the previously explainednozzle and spring 22. p

In Fig. 7 is illustrated another form of this type of nozzle. In thisform the main portions 28 of the nozzle walls are formed su'liicientlyrigid to withstand any suction therein without the aid of. anyreinforcing means. The closed end portion 29 of the nozzle in which theslot 30 is provided is of flexible and readily distortable material suchas the walls of the previously described nozzles, as are also twoareas31adjacent the rear end of the nozzle and at points diametricallyopposite to each otherand. on opposite sidesof the slot 30. The portions28 may be of any rigid or semi-rigid mate rial to which the flexibleportions 29 and 31 may be viiilcanized or otherwise secured. Thisconstruction necessitates the longitudinally extending operating members32 and supporting pivot ring 33 to be situated exteriorly of the walls28, the ring in this case being set into the surface of the walls 28 andbeing provided with extending cars 34 to which the i'nei'nbers 32 arepivotally con nected by the pins the members 32 are connected to theflexible wall portions 29 adjacent the slot 30 by rivets such as 86 orby other suitable .ineuns so that upon pressure being applied to therear ends of the members 32 the wall portions 29 will be distortedandthe slot 30 will be transformed into an opennig as 111- dicated by thedotted lines.v The wall areas 81 are formed to extend slightly outwardlyfrom the normal surface of the nozzle, and

The forward ends of the rear ends of the members 32 are secured to themid-portion thereof by rivets such nozzle to collapse the \willsthcreofin order to aid in the operation. of the nozzle. The suction within thenozzle tends to draw in the wall areas 31 which are connected to therear ends of the members 32, thus tending to spread the forward ends ofthe members 32, this tendency being offset by the" suction which alsotends to close the end wall portions 29. The size of the areas 31 may beso proportioned that the suction acting thereon nearly'balances thesuction on the end portion 29, so that a minimum of pressure on the rearenc s of the members 32 will. be required to cause the slot 30 to betransformed into an opening when presented to a bell of cotton to bepicked.

In Fig. 10 shown a slight modification of the nozzle constructionillustrated in Fig. 7. In Fig. 10 only two relatively small areas 38 and39 of flexible material are provided, the remainder 40 of the wallsbeing of rigid or semi-rigid material capable of withstanding thesuction within the nozzle unreinforced and without distortion. In. thiscase the flexible endportion 38 bounds one side of the slot l1v only,the rigid wall portion 40 bounding the other side. The singlelongitudinally extending operating member 42 used in this form of nozzlepivot-ally supported on the rinp 43 by arivct 44L loosely engaging thesame, its rear end being secured to the midportion of the flexibleportion 39 by a rivet id in a similar manner and for the same purpose asthe members 32 and portions 31 are joined. toget-her in Fig. 7 and theforward end is socured to the flexible wall portion 38 by a rivet 4-5 ina similar manner and for the same purpose as the ctn'responding parts inFig. 7. In operation, when the rear end of the member 42 is depressed,aided by the suction on the flexible wall portion 39, the flexible wallportion 38 only adjacent the slot 4-1 is distorted to form an openingfor the introduction of a cotton boll.

In Fig. 11 is shown a still further 1nodification of the nozzleillustrated in Fig. 7, and, as shown, constitutes a slight change onlyover the construction shown in Fig. 10. In this case only a singleflexible wall portion 16 is employed, and that corresponding to theflexible wall portion. 88 of Fig. 10, it bounding one side of the slot(l7, and the entire remainder 4.8 of the walls of the nozzle being ofrigid or semi-rigid material. 'llhe'single longitudinally extendingmember 19, corresponding; to the member of Fig. 10, is secured to theflexible wall portion 46 adjacent the slot- -l7 by arivetsuch as 50, or;by other suitable means, and is pivotally secured to the supporting ring51 adjacent its center by the rivet 52, the rear end thereof beingextended rearwardly from the ring 51 in spaced relation to the body of.the nozzle inorder to provide suflicient clearance for theproperoperation thereof.

The pressure required to operate this con- Y vantage of by I trol theeffect of the suction cotton picking machine,

struction will, of course, be-relati1."'ely greater than that necessaryin the construction shown in Fig. 1011s no co-operating flexible wallportion is provided, but the mem ber 49 maybe extended back suflicientlyto require but small pressure in any case. The operation of this nozzle,with exception of the flexible wall portion 39 of Fig. 10, is identicalwith the form shown in that figure.

In the construction shown'in Figures 1, and :6, and particularly in thefirst two fi ures that ortion o the nozzle rearwardl b i of the rearends of the metallic operating members 17 is relatively flexible and hasa tendency to collapse under the suction within the nozzle, and thistendency is, of

course, transmitted to the rear ends of the members 17, tending to drawthem together and open the slit; 16. .The degree of col lapsing tendencyis also dependent upon the distance between the rear ends of the members17 and the forward end ofthe sleeve 20. This collapsing tendency istaken adsliding the sleeve 20 towards or away from the rear ends of themembers 17 until the-desired collapsing tendency of the walls istransmitted to the rear ends of the members 17, so that the rear ends vof the members 17 may be drawntowards each other with the most practicalamount of manual pressure thereon for the particular person operatingthe nozzle. 7 This same idea is also employed in the constructions shownin F i ures 7 and 10 the sleeve 20 in such cases being adjusted inrespect to the flexible portions 31 and 39 respectively to conon suchport-ions relative to therear ends of the members 32 and42 respectively.7

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the inventiondescribed without departing from the spirit and substance of the broadinvention, the scope of which is comn'iensurate with the appendedclaims. I

lVhatI claim is l, A cotton'picking nozzle comprising a hollow memberprovided with a normally closed slot-ted end, a portion of thewall ofsaidnozzle bounding said slot being flexible, and manually operablemeans associated with said flexible portion whereby the same may bedeformed, thereby to temporarily distort said slot into an opening.

' 2. ,A picking nozzle for a suction type of comprising a hollow memberthe main portions of the walls of which are relatively inflexible, saidmember being provided with a flexible end portion forming a wall of anormally closed slot, and manually operable means co-operating with saidflexible end portion for separating the walls of said slot.

3. A cotton picking nozzle comprising a hollow member provided with anormally closed slotted end. the main portion of said nozzle beingrelatively inflexible, a flexible wall area bounding one side of saidslot, and a pivotally mounted operating member cooperating with saidflexible area for manually temporarily deforming the whereby to distortsaid slot into an opening.

4:. A cotton picking nozzle comprising a hollow member provided with anominally closed slotted end, the main portions of the walls of saidnozzle being relatively rigid and other portions being flexible, one ofsaid flexible portions bounding a. side of said slot and another of saidflexible portions being spaced rearwardly therefrom, an inflexibleoperating member the ends of which are operably secured to said flexibleportions, and means for pivotally supportin g said operating memberbetween its ends.

5. A cotton picking nozzle for a suction type cotton picking machinecomprising a hollow member provided with a normally closed slotted end,the greater portion of the walls of said nozzle being inflexible andsupporting flexible wall portions, one of said flexible wall portionscomprising said slotted end, and being ol suflicient, inherentrigidityto maintain said slot in closed )0- sit-ion under the normal operatingsuction within said nozzles.

6. A cotton picking nozzl comprising a hollow member provided with anormally closed slotted end, the main portion of the walls of saidnozzle being relatively noudistortable and said end being readilydistortable, and rigid operating members pivottally mounted betweentheir ends and secured at their forward ends to said flexible end andhaving their rear ends operatively connected to flexible wall areaswhereby to aid in the operation of said operating members to temporarilydeform said slot into an openmg.

7. A cotton picking nozzle provided with relatively nondefornmble wallportions and flexible wall portions, one of said flexible wall portionsconstituting a closed end for said nozzle and being provided with aslot, manually operable rigid members pivotally mounted between theirends and having one end thereof operatively connected to said endportion adjacent said slot, and the opposite ends of said rigid membersbeing operatively connected to other flexible wall portions.

8. A picking nozzle for a suction type same cotton picking machine,comprising a hollow member provided at one end with converging wallsclosing said end, and a normally closed slot in said end, the main bodyportion of said nozzle formed of a relatively inflexible material andanother portion thereof including a lip of said slot being formed of anelastic material of suilicient inherent rigidity to remain in its normalposition unaided under the normal operating suction within said nozzle.

9. A picking nozzle for a suction type cotton picking machine,comprising a hollow member terminating at one end in a slotted normallyclosed end, the main body portion of said nozzle formed. of asubstantially nondeformable material, and the walls oi. said terminalend formed of a readily distortable material provided with a normallyclosed slot theretlnough, said distortable material being inherentlysu'liicicntly rigid to maintain said slot in closed position under thenormal operating suction within. said nozzle and sufliciently elastic'topermit temporary deii'ormation thereof whereby to separate the lips ofsaid slot,

10. A picking nozzlo for a suction type cotton picking machinecomprising a hollow member open at its base end and closed at the tipend, the main body prurtion of said member being formed of asubstantially nondetormable material, and said tip end. being formed ofa self-sustaining readily deftornn able material provided with a sellclosing slot nornuilly adapted to remain in closed position under thenormal operating suction within said nozzle.

ILA picking nozzle for a suction type cotton picking machine, comnrising a hollow member provided With an end terminating in aself-closing slot, a lip of said slot being formed of flexible material,a flexible wall portion in said nozzle remote from said slot acted uponby the normal operating suction within said nozzle, an inflexible membercooperating with both said lip and said Wall portion pivoted between itsends, and adjustable means for controlling the effective area of saidwall portion acting upon said member.

12. A picking nozzle for a suction type cotton picking machine,comprising a hollow member provided With a self-closing slotted end, aportion of the walls of said nozzle bounding said slot being flexible, aportion of the walls of said nozzleremote from said slot being flexibleand distortable by the norinal operating suction within said nozzle, arigid member operatively connecting said flexible wall portionspivotally mounted between its ends, and adjustable means for varying theeilect of distortion of the second mentioned flexible portion on saidrigid member. v

18. A. picking nozzle fora suction type cotton picking memberterminating in a self-closing mouth,

the wall area around said mouth formed of flexible material, a secondflexible Wall area remote from said. mouth acted upon by the normal.operating suction within said nozzle, moans connectio said wall areaswhereby relative movement of: one cai'ises movement of the other, andadjustable means slidably received within said. nozzle for varying theeffective area of said second wall area acted upon by said suction.

Signed by me at Detroit, Michigan, U. S. A, this 23rd day of June, 1926.

KARL L. HERRMANN.

machine, comprising a hollow

